Systems and methods for a travel limiting device for limiting the adjustability of a buttstock of a firearm

ABSTRACT

A travel limiting device is disclosed. In one embodiment, the device may be positionable within a position slot and a channel in a buffer tube of a firearm to limit the adjustability of a buttstock. The device may include a main body having a stop surface. The main body may be positionable within the channel. The device also may include a protrusion extending from the main body. The protrusion may be positionable within the position slot.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The disclosure claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application No. 62/384,367, filed Sep. 7, 2016, and U.S. provisional patent application No. 62/395,633, filed Sep. 16, 2016, which are both incorporated herein in their entireties.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The disclosure generally relates to firearms and more particularly relates to systems and methods for a travel limiting device for limiting the adjustability of a buttstock.

BACKGROUND

Certain firearms may include an adjustable buttstock. The adjustable buttstock may enable a user to adjust the pull length of the firearm. In some instances, it may be beneficial to limit the adjustability of the buttstock in order to quickly and reliably position the buttstock in a desired location.

SUMMARY

Some or all of the above needs and/or problems may be addressed by certain embodiments of the travel limiting device disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the travel limiting device may be positionable within a position slot and a channel in a buffer tube of a firearm to limit the adjustability of a buttstock. The travel limiting device may include a main body having a stop surface. The main body may be positionable within the channel. The travel limiting device also may include a protrusion extending from the main body. The protrusion may be positionable within the position slot.

Other features and aspects of the disclosure will be apparent or will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and the detailed description. All other features and aspects, as well as other system, method, and assembly embodiments, are intended to be included within the description and are intended to be within the scope of the accompanying claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The detailed description is set forth with reference to the accompanying drawings. The use of the same reference numerals may indicate similar or identical items. Various embodiments may utilize elements and/or components other than those illustrated in the drawings, and some elements and/or components may not be present in various embodiments. Elements and/or components in the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. Throughout this disclosure, depending on the context, singular and plural terminology may be used interchangeably.

FIG. 1 depicts a travel limiting device for limiting the adjustability of a buttstock in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 depicts a travel limiting device disposed within a buffer tube for limiting the adjustability of a buttstock in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 depicts a travel limiting device disposed within a buffer tube for limiting the adjustability of a buttstock in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 depicts a sectional view of a travel limiting device disposed within a buffer tube for limiting the adjustability of a buttstock in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Described below are embodiments of a travel limiting device (as well as individual components of the travel limiting device) that can be attached to a firearm. Methods of using and installing the travel limiting device on the firearm are also disclosed. The firearm may be a conventional firearm. For example, the firearm may be an M-16 style rifle, an AR-15 style rifle, an AR-10 style rifle, or an M-4 style rifle, among others. Any suitable firearm may be used, particularly any suitable firearm that includes an adjustable buttstock.

The travel limiting device may be positionable within a position slot and a channel in a buffer tube of a firearm to limit the adjustability of a buttstock. In some instances, the travel limiting device may include a main body having a stop surface. The main body may be positionable within the channel. In certain embodiments, the main body may be omitted.

The travel limiting device also may include a protrusion extending from the main body. The protrusion may be positionable within the position slot. In some instances, the protrusion may be configured to securely mate with the position slot. For example, a diameter of the protrusion may be larger than a diameter of the position slot. In some embodiments, the protrusion may comprise a star-shaped boss, a round boss, a square boss, a triangular boss, or the like. In one example, the protrusion may be secured within the position slot by an adhesive. In other instances, the protrusion may be expandable within the position slot to secure the protrusion within the position slot. In yet other instances, the protrusion may be secured within the position slot by a double-sided tape. In certain embodiments, a hole may pass through the protrusion and the main body.

Turning now to the drawings, FIGS. 1-4 depict a travel limiting device 100. The travel limiting device 100 may be used to limit the adjustability of a buttstock on a firearm. For example, as depicted in FIGS. 2-4, the travel limiting device 100 may be configured to limit the adjustability of a buttstock along a buffer tube 102. In some instance, the buffer tube 102 may include a channel 104 in which a portion of the buttstock may slide back-and-forth. The channel 104 may include a number of positon slots 106. A moveable protrusion on the buttstock may be configured to slide along the channel 104 and mate with one of the positions slots 106 in order to secure the buttstock in place. An example of a moveable buttstock comprising a moveable protrusion 64 that is positionable within a number of position slots in a buffer tube 34 is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,341,868, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. Depending on the length of the channel 104 and the number of position slots 106, the buttstock may be positioned in a number of different configurations.

Some users, however, may wish to limit the adjustability of the buttstock to a limited number of configurations. In such instances, one or more travel limiting devices 100 may be positioned within the channel 104 and the position slots 106 in order to limit the length of the channel 104. In some instances, two travel limiting devices 100 may be disposed within the channel 104. For example, the two travel limiting devices 100 may face one another (e.g., as mirror images) to limit the length of the channel 104 to the distance between the two travel limiting devices 100. In other instances, only a single travel limiting device 100 may be positioned within the channel 104 and one of the position slots 106 in order to limit the length of the channel 104 to the distance between an end of the channel 104 and the travel limiting device 100.

The use of one or a number of the travel limiting devices 100 may limit the number of position slots 106 available for the moveable protrusion on the buttstock to mate with. For example, the moveable protrusion on the buttstock may be limited to sliding along the channel 104 between the two travel limiting devices 100 or between a single travel limiting device 100 and an end of the channel 104. In this manner, the full range of the channel and all of the position slots 106 may not be available for mating with the moveable protrusion on the buttstock.

Turning back to FIG. 1, in certain embodiments, the travel limiting device 100 may include a main body 108. In some instances, the main body 108 may be positioned within the channel 104 of the buffer tube 102. The main body 108 may be sized and shaped to be positioned within the channel 104. The main body 108 may be any suitable size, shape, or configuration. In some instances, the main body 108 may include a stop surface 110. The stop surface 110 may engage a portion of the buttstock (e.g., the moveable protrusion) to limit the movement of the buttstock within the channel 104. In some instances, the stop surface 110 may be generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the channel 104. In other instances, the stop surface 110 may be angled. The stop surface 110 may be any suitable size, shape, or configuration. The stop surface 110 may prevent the moveable protrusion on the buttstock from sliding within the channel 104 once the moveable protrusion on the buttstock engages (e.g., abuts) the stop surface 110.

When two limiting devices 100 are used, the stop surfaces 110 may face each other. In this manner, as depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4, the moveable protrusion on the buttstock may be limited to sliding along the channel 104 between the stop surfaces 110 of the two travel limiting devices 100. As a result, the full range of the channel 104 and all of the position slots 106 may not be available for mating with the moveable protrusion on the buttstock. Instead, the stop surfaces 110 of the two travel limiting devices 100 may limit the movement of the moveable protrusion on the buttstock to only the position slots 106 located between the two stop surfaces 110.

In certain embodiments, referring back to FIG. 1, the travel limiting device 100 may include a protrusion 112. The protrusion 112 may extend from the main body 108. In some instances, the protrusion 112 may extend from the main body 108 in a direction generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the channel 104. In other instances, the protrusion 112 may be angled. The protrusion 112 may be any suitable size, shape, or configuration. The protrusion 112 may be positioned within one of the position slots 106. In some instances, the protrusion 112 may be configured to securely mate with the position slots 106. In other instances, the protrusion 112 may be held in place by an adhesive or tape (e.g., double-sided tape). In yet other instances, the protrusion 112 may be screwed into the positon slots 106. In still other instances, the protrusion 112 may be snap-fit or pressure fitted into the positon slots 106. For example, a diameter of the protrusion 112 may be slightly larger than a diameter of the position slots 106. In example embodiments, the protrusion 112 may comprise a star-shaped boss, a round boss, a square boss, or a triangular boss. The protrusion 112 may be any shape. The main body 108 and the protrusion 112 may be made of the same or different material. The travel limiting device 100 may be plastic, rubber, metal, composite, or a combination thereof. The travel limiting device 100 may comprise any suitable material or combination thereof.

In some instances, a hole 114 may extend through the protrusion 112 and the main body 108. The hole 114 may be used to screw the protrusion 112 into the position slots 106. In other instances, the hole 114 may be used to expand the protrusion 112. For example, the protrusion 112 may be expandable within the position slots 106 to secure the protrusion 112 within the position slot 106. In one embodiment, the protrusion 112 may include an expandable slit, which expands the protrusion 112 within the positon slots 106 when a wedge is inserted into the hole 114. The wedge may be any size, shape, or configuration, such as a triangular wedge, a cone wedge, or a ball wedge.

In an alternate embodiment, the main body 108 may be omitted. In such instances, one or more of the protrusions 112 may act as a plug and not limit the movement of the buttstock within the channel 104. That is, one or more of the protrusions 112, with the main body 108 omitted, may be positioned within one or more of the position slots 106 to prevent the moveable protrusion on the buttstock from mating with the respective position slots 106 such that the buttstock slides along the channel 104 and passes the respective position slots 106. In some instances, the protrusions 112 may be disposed within the position slots 106, with a surface of the protrusions 112 being flush with the channel 104 to enable the moveable protrusion on the buttstock to slide along the channel 104 and pass the respective position slots 106. Any number of protrusions 112 may be used to plug one or more of the position slots 106. In this manner, the systems and methods disclosed herein may enable a user to limit the distance in which the buttstock can travel within the channel 104, as well as limit which of the position slots 106 the moveable protrusion on the buttstock can mate with. As a result, the user may customize the adjustability of the buttstock in order to quickly and reliably position the buttstock in a number of desired locations.

Although specific embodiments of the disclosure have been described, numerous other modifications and alternative embodiments are within the scope of the disclosure. For example, any of the functionality described with respect to a particular device or component may be performed by another device or component. Further, while specific device characteristics have been described, embodiments of the disclosure may relate to numerous other device characteristics. Further, although embodiments have been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described. Rather, the specific features and acts are disclosed as illustrative forms of implementing the embodiments. Conditional language, such as, among others, “can,” “could,” “might,” or “may,” unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments could include, while other embodiments may not include, certain features, elements, and/or steps. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements, and/or steps are in any way required for one or more embodiments. 

That which is claimed is:
 1. A device positionable within a position slot and a channel in a buffer tube of a firearm to limit the adjustability of a buttstock, the device comprising: a main body having a stop surface, wherein the main body is positionable within the channel; and a protrusion extending from the main body, wherein the protrusion is positionable within the position slot.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the protrusion is configured to securely mate with the position slot.
 3. The device of claim 1, wherein a diameter of the protrusion is larger than a diameter of the position slot.
 4. The device of claim 1, wherein the protrusion comprises a star-shaped boss.
 5. The device of claim 1, wherein the protrusion comprises a round boss.
 6. The device of claim 1, wherein the protrusion comprises a square boss.
 7. The device of claim 1, wherein the protrusion comprises a triangular boss.
 8. The device of claim 1, wherein the protrusion is secured within the position slot by an adhesive.
 9. The device of claim 1, wherein the protrusion is expandable within the position slot to secure the protrusion within the position slot.
 10. The device of claim 1, wherein the protrusion is secured within the position slot by a double-sided tape.
 11. The device of claim 1, further comprising a hole through the protrusion and the main body.
 12. A device positionable within a position slot and a channel in a buffer tube of a firearm to limit the adjustability of a buttstock, the device comprising: a main body having a stop surface, wherein the main body is positionable within the channel; and a protrusion extending from the main body, wherein the protrusion is positionable within the position slot, wherein the protrusion comprises a star-shaped boss, wherein a diameter of the protrusion is larger than a diameter of the position slot.
 13. The device of claim 12, wherein the protrusion is configured to securely mate with the position slot.
 14. The device of claim 12, wherein the protrusion is secured within the position slot by an adhesive.
 15. The device of claim 12, wherein the protrusion is expandable within the position slot to secure the protrusion within the position slot.
 16. The device of claim 12, wherein the protrusion is secured within the position slot by a double-sided tape.
 17. The device of claim 12, further comprising a hole through the protrusion and the main body.
 18. A device positionable within a position slot and a channel in a buffer tube of a firearm to limit the adjustability of a buttstock, the device comprising: a protrusion positionable within the position slot in the buffer tube, wherein the protrusions acts as a plug to prevent the buttstock from mating with the position slot such that the buttstock slides along the channel and passes the position slot.
 19. The device of claim 18, wherein the protrusion is configured to securely mate with the position slot.
 20. The device of claim 18, wherein a diameter of the protrusion is larger than a diameter of the position slot. 